Kite



M. EC KMANN March 11 1924.

KITE

Filed Jan. 24, 1924 lNVENTO Magic/ mam $5 I Patented ar. 11, 1924..

ECKMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BITE.

Application filed January 24, 1924-. Serial No. 688,12

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MAX EOKMANN, a citi' zen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kites, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to foldable kites and particularly to that type known as tail-less kites, in which a horizontal bow string is used to bow the kite near the upper ends thereof, thereby dispensing with the need of a tail.

It is usual in kites of this character to use a vertical wooden strip and a horizontal wooden cross bar, in the form of a cross, as a frame to brace and to support the paper sheet of which the body of the kite is usually made. It is to be remembered that kites of the type to which this invention pertains are usually sold in dis-assembled form and folded into a package of minimum width. The users, generally small boys, must assemble the kites themselves and it is there fore desirable to provide a structure which can be assembled with ease and speed by those possessing little or no mechanical knowledge, without danger of damage to the kite. Various means have heretofore been devised for the purpose of securing the two frame members above-mentioned to the kite body and to each other in proper co-operative relation. It is in the means which I provide for said purpose, that my invention primarily resides.

From the description which follows, the

various objects of my invention will be more clear. Referring to the drawings herein, Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of my inven tion as it appears when assembled and bowed ready for flight. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In that embodiment of my invention illustrated, the body of the kite is made of any suitable light, flexible material and is preferably substantially triangular in outline. The upright bracing member 12 is permanently attached to the body member 10 preferably at the ends 13 and 14 being caused preferably to adhere to said body member as by means of suitable paste, glue, or other adhesive, whereby that portion of the body 10 between the ends 13 and 14 of the brace is free to adjust itself to varying wind pressures and stresses on the face or on the back thereof. A bow string as 15 is made preferably of a single integral piece and is preferably secured to the back surface of the body member 10 near the upper end 11 thereof by causing a reinforcing strip as 16, of sufficient width, to adhere to said body member with the string therebetween (Figs. 2 and It will be understood that said strip 16 is made preferably substantially as long as the width of the body 10, though short pieces as indicated by the dotted lines 17 may be used instead if desired. It will also be understood that sufficient string is allowed to project beyond the outer ends of the reinforcing strip to enable the bow string 15 to be tied readily at the proper tension to produce the desired bowing effect. Any suitable means, such as paste, gum, or other adhesive, or wire staples, may be used for permanently securing the reinforcing strip 16 to the body of the kite, though I prefer to use adhesive of the usual type.

For maintaining the cross bow member 18 in the operative position thereof, I prefer to employ a preferably wide loop as 19 of paper or similar material secured to the strip 16 or to the back face of the body 10 substantially underneath the upright 12 at approximately the same height as said reinforcing strip 16. Said loop has a reentrant fold 20 at the upper end thereof for the purpose which will be more fully described hereinafter. The cross bow member, 18 is notched at the ends 21 and 22 thereof by means of a pair of inclined cuts meeting approximately near the center of the wide face of said member. I prefer to make the members 12 and 18 of thin though comparatively wide wooden strips for purposes of economy, flexibility and strength though it will be understoodthat any suitable light material may be used for this purpose.

In the form in which the kite is sold the cross bow member 18 is not passed through the loop 19 but is arranged near and parallel to the upright brace 12, and the members 12 and 18 then folded or wrapped within the flexible body member 10 to forma compact package of substantially the length of the brace 12 and comparatively little wider than the loop 19. If desired, the ends of the string 15 which project beyond the ends of the reinforcing strip 16 may be used for tying up the package.

Eli

In assembling the kite, the package is unwrapped to its full width, the cross bow member 18 passed through the loop 19, the loose ends of the string 15 brought through the bottom of the notches 21 and 22 in said cross member 18 then pulled together until the proper bow shape is given to said member 18, and then tied with a suitable knot as 23 to maintain the entire kite in its bowed position.

It will be seen that practically no me chanical knowledge is required to insert the member 18 through the loop 19 since the inturned told 20 serves to separate the inner and outer parts of the loop, leaving a substantial opening which it is obvious, is provided'for the member 18. lit will also be seen that the strip 16 serves not only to hold the string 15 securely in place on the body member 10 but serves also to strengthen the kite at the points where the sheet 10 is greatly stressed due to the pressure thereon of the member 18. It will be seen further that the string 15 is firmly secured to the body 10 between said body and the strip 16 and that said string can withstand a pull of considerable force in any direction. Furthermore, the member 18 has sufficient room to adjust itself vertically if necessary within the loop 19 to the bowing stress put thereon, and that said member 18 is firmly and at fectively secured in position against displacement, by the action of the said loop 19 near the center and the action of the string 15 at the ends in the bottom of the notches 21 and 22.

Various changes from the embodiment illustrated are contemplated as being within the scope of this invention, such as using short pieces instead of the long strip 16, changing the proportions of the parts and varying the means by which the parts are fastened together.

ll claim:

1. In a kite of the character described, a flexible sheet, a removable cross bow member adapted to brace said sheet, a flexible loop secured to said sheet, and adapted to have said member passed therethrough, and means secured to said sheet for bowing said member. 7

2. In a kite of the character described,

a flexible body member, a bow string secured string.

41. n a kite of the character described, a

flexible body member, and a paper loop having an inturned fold for separating the sides of said loop, secured to said member.

5. In a foldable kite, a flexible sheet, removable means ior transversely bracing said sheet, means secured to said sheet for maintaining said bracing means in position against vertical displacement and means adapted to engage said bracing means for bowing said kite.

6. In a kite of the character described, a foldable be y member, an upright adher ing at the ends thereof to said member, a bow string secured to said member and a removable cross bOW adapted to be maintained in place by said string.

'Z. in a kite of the character described, a foldable body member, a longitudinal brace on said member, a bow string extending beyond, ant. secured transversely on to said body member, and means co-operating with said string for bowing said kite.

8. in a kite of the character described, a flexible body member, means permanently secured to said member for bracing said kite longitudinally, removable means for bracing said kite transversely, means for maintaining said transverse bracing means in position against vertical displacement, and means secured to said body member for bowing said transverse bracing means.

9. in a kite of the character described, a flexible sheet, a cross shaped frame for bracing said sheet, comprising an upright adhering to said sheet and a cross bow member adapted to be arranged transversely of said sheet and underneath said upright near the upper end thereof, means secured to said sheet for supporting said bow member, and string secured to, and transversely of, said sheet and adapted to engage the ends of said cross bow member for bowing said member.

10. lin a kite of the character described, a flexible body member, a thin comparatively wide, cross bow member, V-shaped notches meeting on the wide races of said bow mem= her, at the ends of said bow member, and a bow spring, secured to said body member and adapted to engage said notches for how ing said bow member.

11'. In a kite of'the character described, a

flexible body member, a removable cross bow member having notches in the ends thereof, a flexible loop secured "to said body member and adapted to have said cross bow mem ber passed therethrough, and a bow string secured to said body member and adapted to engage said notches tor bowing said cross bow member on the tensioning of said string. 7

12. in a :toldable kite, a flexible body member, a cross bow member, having a V- shaped notch in each end thereof, a bow string secured to the rear face oi said body member and adapted to engage said notches Nil masses for bowing said bow member, and a strip adhering to said body member with said string therebetween for securing said string in position.

13. In a foldable kite, a flexible body member, a removable cross bow member haw ing notches at the ends thereof, a bow string secured to said body member and adapted to engage said notches for bowing said bow member, a flexible stri adhering to said body member with said string therebetween for securing said string in position transversely of said body member, and a loop having one face thereof secured to said body member, and adapted to have said cross member passed therethrough.

14. In a kite of the character described, a

sheet, a bow string arranged transversely of sheet, a strip adhering to said sheet with said string therebetween, a removable cross bow member notched at the ends thereof adapted to be bowed on the tensioning of said string, and a paper loop having an inturned fold for separating the sides of said loop in spaced relation, secured to said body member, and adapted to have said cross bow member passed therethrough for maintaining said cross bow member against displace ment vertically.

15. In a foldable kite, a flexible sheet, an upright thin wooden strip adhering at the ends thereof to said sheet, a bow string arranged approximately at the Widest part of said sheet transversely of said sheet, a flexible strip adhering to said sheet with said string therebetween, a flexible loop, having an inturned fold, adhering to said sheet at a point underneath said upright strip, and a thin wooden cross bow member having wide deep notches at the ends thereof adapted to be inserted through said loop and bowed by the tensioning and tying of said string.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 23rd day of January,1924.

MAX ECKMANN. 

